Domestic Abuse Provision for Buckinghamshire

Description

Buckinghamshire Council intends to procure a comprehensive Domestic Abuse Support Service encompassing both safe accommodation support and community‑based outreach for victims of domestic abuse and their children. This service will ensure the authority meets statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which introduced legal obligations for Tier 1 local authorities to provide support in safe accommodation and formally recognised children as victims in their own right. The proposed service will include: - Delivery of support within safe accommodation, including refuge, dispersed units, and other forms of secure housing. - Community outreach services for victims who do not require or choose not to enter accommodation‑based services. - Support for children and young people impacted by domestic abuse, aligning with the statutory duty to recognise them as victims. - Trauma‑informed, person‑centred support including safety planning, advocacy, emotional support, and assistance with accessing health, education, legal and financial services. - Alignment with emerging obligations from the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which will introduce new collaborative commissioning duties across local partners for victim support services. The authority aims to deliver a local domestic abuse response that: - Meets statutory duties under national legislation. - Improves safety, well-being, and recovery outcomes for victims. - Strengthens multi‑agency partnership working. - Ensures early intervention and robust safeguarding pathways. Estimated Contract Value: The contract is expected to exceed the £2 million threshold, which requires publication of individual UK1 Pipeline Notices for each procurement. Planned Procurement Approach: The authority anticipates conducting a competitive procurement in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Market Considerations: Publishing this pipeline notice will: - Provide early visibility to the market, including SMEs and VCSE organisations, which are recognised as key providers in this sector. - Invite innovation in service design, such as culturally responsive support, survivor‑led practice, perpetrator‑focused disruption pathways, and improved digital access. - Enable providers to prepare and collaborate across the local partnership landscape in line with the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. Estimated Procurement Timeline: - Publication of Tender Notice (UK4): Expected within the forthcoming reporting period, consistent with UK1 requirements for forward‑looking visibility over 18 months. - Service Start Date: To be confirmed and detailed in the Tender Notice. - Contract Length: Anticipated to be multi‑year to ensure stability of service delivery. Additional Context: This procurement forms part of the authority’s broader safeguarding and community safety strategy, ensuring that survivors receive high‑quality, timely, and holistic support.